Critic Reviews

Shrek SuperSlam offers 20 characters, 16 levels, and a heck of a lot of replay value. It's great for kids and adults alike and shouldn't be dismissed as a mere licensed game. This is the real deal, a great family game, and even if you didn't like the movies, a heck of a lot of fractured fairy tale fun.

Shrek SuperSlam deviates from the standard platforming fare of the Shrek series. That said, the game’s combat system is fundamentally solid with an excellent combo system that is actually much more in-depth than I originally suspected. It retains the Shrek humor that makes the series so popular in the first place, as well, thereby appealing to younger fans. Overall, the game is a nice throwback to the PowerStone series except with Shrek characters replacing Capcom’s fantasy characters. The PC version of the game is only $20 (compared to $40 for consoles), so if you're on a budget, this is the version to get.

There may be some fumbling with the controls until you get comfortable and the keyboard is definitely much harder to use than a gamepad. The control elements notwithstanding though, this is a game that is better in multiplayer (the AI is good, but the fun is in competition with another player) than in a single-player setting. The humor is much more appealing to younger players, but the graphics, sound and action combine for an entertaining, if not irreverent, trip into Shrek’s world. While good, this game translates better, control-wise, on the home console platforms.

Games like this are definitely not for my demographic. If you're a parent and you're looking for a game that you can rent for the weekend to keep the house full of kids busy, this could be a pretty safe bet. Unfortunately, if you're above the age of 13, you may find this game extremely boring, and somewhat lackluster. It's got the makings of a fun-filled 3D fighting game, but it just unfortunately doesn't deliver like it should. And it doesn't have anything to do with the Shrek license.

Shrek SuperSlam is a good game for younger people and fans of the movies. It's simple, easy entertainment that isn't at all demanding or convoluted. The characters retain the same great charm from the movies, and there are even funny moments in some of the cutscenes. The only problem with the game is that it really doesn't have enough depth to sustain it for much more than a few hours, which makes it difficult to recommend at $40. Still, it's worth checking out if you love melee games or the Shrek series, because it does a fairly good job of delivering on both those fronts.

Shrek SuperSlam will leave PC gamers incredibly disappointed. Humorous fight scenes and colorful backgrounds cannot make up for the poor game controls and lack of Internet multiplayer. I had the chance to play the Xbox version with my young nephews Jack and Peter over Thanksgiving and the difference in playability between the PC and console versions is night and day. If you’re interested in giving this game to the little Prince Charmings this holiday season, I recommend reading Tyler Whitney’s and Mark Smith’s reviews of the superior PS2 and Xbox versions.

With all that said the final conclusion is this game has some smooth and fluid animations. The music and sound effects are fairly well done. It retains the witty humor, which is an integral part in the movie. None of the original voices have been used which is kind of disappointing. However the voice-overs sound close enough to be the real thing. The camera is well positioned so one can see the entire action from all angles in the arena. The constant button mashing could leave you bored and annoyed. Although the attacks are based on parody fairytale, popular culture spoofs can get a bit goofy at times. There is nothing extraordinary about Shrek Super slam which may or may not make you want to come back for more. It may be a big hit with the younger players who will enjoy the basic slamming action.